Who was Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh, Saudi Arabia’s late Grand Mufti?
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia announced the passing of Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh, the kingdom’s Grand Mufti and head of the Council of Senior Scholars, at the age of 82.
Who was Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh, Saudi Arabia’s late Grand Mufti?
Funeral prayers took place at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh. King Salman didn’t stop there—he also ordered absentee prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, and mosques across the country. The entire nation joined in mourning a figure who had defined religious authority for decades.
And here’s the thing: his death closes a chapter that spanned more than 20 years as the top state-backed religious leader in the kingdom.
A Scholar Rooted in History
Born in Mecca in 1943, Al-Asheikh wasn’t just any cleric. He came from the family of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, the influential 18th-century preacher whose alliance with the Al-Saud dynasty laid the foundations of the modern Saudi state.
Back in the day, he studied under some of the most prominent Saudi scholars, including former Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz ibn Baz. After graduating from the College of Sharia at Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in 1963, he started out as a teacher. Later, he became a lecturer at the Higher Institute of Judiciary in Riyadh.
We’ve all seen leaders become familiar faces year after year, right? For Al-Asheikh, that happened through his role as khatib (preacher) at the Namira Mosque in Arafat, where he delivered the Hajj sermon for 35 years straight. Imagine the responsibility of addressing millions of pilgrims every single year.
By 1996, he was deputy Grand Mufti. Just three years later, following the death of Ibn Baz, he stepped into the role of Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia.
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Shaping Religious Authority
From 1999 until his death, Al-Asheikh was at the helm of the kingdom’s most powerful religious bodies. He oversaw the Council of Senior Scholars and the Permanent Committee for Research and Fatwas, essentially serving as the state’s top interpreter of Sharia law.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. His rulings weren’t just theological—they were political, too. His position was tied to the monarchy’s strategy of blending religious legitimacy with political authority. In other words, the two moved hand-in-hand.
Loyal to the Crown, Aligned with Change
Let’s be honest—Al-Asheikh wasn’t known for rocking the boat. In fact, he was publicly loyal to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), even as the prince pushed reforms that dramatically reduced clerical influence.
His fatwas often seemed to evolve alongside government priorities. For example, after the state consolidated religious rulings under the Council of Senior Scholars in 2010, independent voices were sidelined. This made sure fatwas reinforced government decisions.
Think about women’s right to drive in 2017. For decades, clerics opposed it. But Al-Asheikh declared it religiously permissible once the government gave the green light. That’s not a coincidence.
He also backed reforms like curbing the religious police, softening stances on gender roles, and even lending religious approval to cultural changes under Vision 2030.
Balancing Moderation and Authority
Al-Asheikh often condemned groups like Islamic State (IS) and railed against sectarianism, echoing the state’s messaging about “moderation.” On paper, this made him look like a defender of balance. But critics argue it also reinforced the silencing of alternative voices and minority perspectives inside Saudi Arabia.
The bottom line? His official influence over daily life had already shrunk in recent years. The clerical establishment simply didn’t hold the same weight it once did. Still, his title and presence offered legitimacy to decisions that were, in reality, already made by the state.
Legacy and Family
Even though his personal influence had waned, Al-Asheikh’s family continues to carry his legacy. He leaves behind four sons, including Abdullah Al-Asheikh, who serves as imam of Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh and manages a research program named after his father.
So what does this really mean? In a way, his passing marks the symbolic end of an era—one where religious leaders once stood shoulder to shoulder with the monarchy in shaping every corner of Saudi society. Nowadays, that balance has shifted, with politics taking the front seat.
But his name, and his role, will still be remembered as part of the story of modern Saudi Arabia.
